Financial Aid Terms & Conditions

The financial aid identified on your Award Letter is being offered to you with the following conditions:

You must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student.

You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours minimum per term) to be eligible for the Federal Direct Loan(s). The annual maximum loan amount you may borrow as an undergraduate must be prorated when your remaining period of study is shorter than an academic year and you’re enrolled in less than 15 hours. If you’re planning to graduate at the end of the fall semester, you’re subject to this requirement.

The Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Awards on your Award Letter are calculated based on a minimum enrollment of 12 hours (8 hours for on-line programs) for the Fall and Spring semesters. If you enroll for fewer than 12 hours (8 hours for on-line programs), your Cost of Attendance and financial aid awards (including, but not limited to, Federal Pell Grant, OSFA grants/scholarships, Federal Perkins Loan, University Loan, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Direct Loans) may be reduced or cancelled. You must notify OSFA if you will be enrolled for less than 12 hours (8 hours for on-line programs). If you do not notify OSFA, your aid may be adjusted after the 10th day of the semester and you will be required to repay any financial aid that you were not eligible to receive.

You must notify our office of the sources and amounts of any financial assistance that you receive from all other sources, including but not limited to scholarships, loans, assistantships, fellowships, and educational benefits that don’t appear on your Financial Aid Award Letter. This information should be reported on the “Request Changes” section of your electronic Award Letter.

We reserve the right to adjust or cancel any award at any time because of the notification of awards not previously included on your Award Letter, changes in your financial or academic status, or due to an awarding error. Changes reflected in your awards will result in an email to you, serving as a notification of the change.

If you’re offered Federal Work Study (FWS), you must accept the FWS award and earn FWS funds in the current year in order to be considered for FWS in future years.

You’ll be responsible for repaying any funds you receive that exceed your financial need, or if for any reason you become ineligible for the financial aid.

If you don't attend each class you’re enrolled in or stop attending classes without officially withdrawing, your financial aid awards may be adjusted and repayment may be required.

If you stop attending classes without officially withdrawing, your financial aid awards may be adjusted and repayment may be required.

All awards in your financial aid package are contingent upon continued funding from federal, state, and institutional sources. If funding for any of your awards is reduced, suspended, or eliminated, the affected awards will be reduced or rescinded accordingly. If the awards were disbursed to your account, the amount of the reduction or rescission will be charged back to your account no later than the end of the term for which the award was made, and you will be responsible for paying the account balance in accordance with University payment policies.

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share this information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, you’re considered for the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. If you were determined to meet the eligibility criteria for the MAP grant, an award is included on your Award Letter. This award may be an estimate made by the financial aid office and, if so, is identified as a “State of IL MAP Grant (Est).” MAP grants are limited based on the number of applicants and funding levels appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly. Please be aware that in light of state funding constraints, reductions to estimated or actual MAP grants are possible.

Eligibility for a MAP grant is tracked by the equivalent number of semester credit hours of MAP benefits paid on your behalf. This is called MAP Paid Credit Hours. Payment for each term is being made according to the equivalent number of credit hours eligible for MAP payment, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 MAP Paid Credit Hours.

A limit is put on the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be paid while you’re classified as a freshman or sophomore by your school. This limit is the equivalent of 75 MAP Paid Credit Hours. If this maximum is reached, you must attain junior status for your MAP grant eligibility to resume. The maximum number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be received is capped at 135.

If a State of Illinois MAP Grant isn’t included in your Award Letter, you’re not eligible for the grant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The State of Illinois MAP Grant will be reduced if you’re registered for fewer than 15 credit hours in a semester. Also, if you reduce your course load by withdrawing from a second 8-week course prior to the 5th day of class, your State of Illinois MAP Grant will be reduced, requiring repayment.

If requested, you must provide documents to verify the accuracy of information reported on your FAFSA before financial aid funds can be awarded or disbursed.

If after filing your FAFSA, you’re convicted of possessing or selling drugs, you must notify our office immediately.

Two or more tuition and/or fee restricted awards may be combined, but the total can’t exceed your assessed tuition and/or fees.

You must work in a Federal Work-Study (FWS) position to earn the FWS amount shown on your Award Letter. FWS funds are not disbursed into your University Billing Account. You receive a paycheck every 2 weeks, as in any other form of employment.

You won’t be eligible for aid offered for any term during which you hold a cooperative education position or a paid internship.

If you’re participating in a study abroad program, you must provide our office with a Study Abroad Budget Sheet. Your Cost of Attendance will be adjusted with this information, and your financial aid awards may be adjusted.

If you’re working toward a second bachelor’s degree, you’re only eligible for Federal Direct Loans.

You’re not eligible for aid restricted to undergraduate students, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Illinois MAP Grant, or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, if you have a bachelor’s degree, or if you’re a graduate or professional student.

You’ll receive financial aid in 2 installments (one half is disbursed for the fall semester, and the second half for spring semester), unless otherwise noted. Disbursements are made directly to your student account.